Drugs and the Law

NEUROSCI 153FS

Exploration of the relationship between addictive drugs and the law. Examine mechanisms by which drugs of abuse affect the brain and decision-making on the individual level, and consequences of those effects on the societal level, then examine how society responds to these behaviors in terms of attitudes and laws. Compare perspectives of the criminal justice system with that of drug users. Class consists of lectures, discussions, guest speakers, and media presentations and a project examining cross-generational views on drug use, abuse, and laws. Open only to students in the Focus Program. Instructor consent required. One course.